Companion Character

Companions are non-player characters that the players are able to recruit to accompany them on their adventures. Each companion character has special skills that unlock over time as they level-up alongside the player character.[1]

Companions are able to fill the role for a group in a Flashpoint or group quest.

Contents

Companion Roles

During a player's main storyline, they can obtain up to six companion characters at one time. With the addition of Section X on Belsavis it's now possible for all classes to gain a seventh companion, HK-51, once they reach level 50. Only one can accompany the player off the player's starship.[3] Each of these companions are designed to help fill a specific role for the player:

Support - medical abilities like Field Dress and Kolto Pack; later they can unlock control abilities, such as Carbonized Stream, which assigns the companion to completely focus on keeping an enemy out of a fight; useful attack options for when healing isn't needed

Players gain a companion very early in the game. This first companion will be the one with the most useful role for that player's class. For example, the Sith Inquistor's first companion is a melee-tank, able to take aggro and damage, enabling the Inquisitor to focus on their Force powers.[1]

Missions

Companions will be able to do solo missions by themselves as assigned by the player. (For example, see Crafting below.)

In addition, companion characters will have quests for their own storyline. If the player chooses to complete a companion's quests, it can change the affection level of that companion. This can result in rewards for the player or group that are unavailable through other routes.[4]

Customization

Various appearances for Vette.

As well as being able to equip humanoid companions with any of the player's old apparel, the player can also customize the companion's physical appearance using "appearance kits."[1] These alterations include changing the companion's skin color and tattoos.

In the game interface, a further distinction among companions is that other players' companions are anonymous to you, being titled only as “[Player Name]’s Companion,” while your companion will display the full name.[5]

While these appearances help distinguish one player's experience from the others in the MMORPG, a feature with more direct impact is customizing behaviors. This lets the player specify which skills and abilities the companion should use and should avoid during combat.[1]

You can buy Companions Customization at several locations. These Companion Customizations can be equipped by opening your character sheet (default hotkey "C"), clicking on the companion tab, and then right clicking the customization in your inventory. For the Empire, the first known companion appearance vendor Wel-Nolan is on the planet Balmorra at the Sunken Sarlacc Cantina.

Republic Vendor Locations

Vendor Name: Tamin

Only available to players with a security key authenticator tied to their account.

Affection System

Companion characters will voice their perspectives from time to time, often giving information on current storylines and pointing out locations to visit. They may also try to influence the player's decisions. Likewise, the player will influence each companion, changing how they develop as the story progresses. Some Companions will become close friends or even lovers, while some may gradually become enemies.[6]

The SWTOR affection system tracks the relationship between a player and each companion. Buying gifts for the companion and making appropriate conversation choices increase the affection rating. In addition, decisions the player makes when a companion is present can also influence the relationship.[5]

Progression in the relationship can open new conversation options, new quests, and unexpected plot twists. For example, companions may reveal secrets about their real identity and background.

It's notable that romance aspects are not required in order to play through a class storyline; however, they will likely add to the depth and tension of the narrative.[1]

As a companion gains more affection, lower rank gifts will provide less affection with them. This can be seen in the below table. After the first 2000 affections points have been gained, Rank 1 gifts will give 50% less affection than they did at less than 2000. This goes for all affection ranks and companion gifts.

The following is a chart of companions, gift-type and how well received the gift is:

Quality of gift also change the value of influence given.

Green : No modifier

Blue : +50%

Purple: +300%

Crafting

Companions can be used to help craft, gather, and engage in missions. The basic gathering task of gathering out of nodes can be delegated to the companion currently with the player character. The default button for this is to right click on the node. The Preferences menu can be used to change this.

More extensively, as part of the Crew Skills crafting system, companions are able go on gathering assignments anywhere depending on the level your gathering skill.

Level Restrictions

Several companions can be sent on crew missions at one time, however keep in mind, that the simultaneous usage of them is restricted as followed: